Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I rise to discuss the ongoing controversy surrounding the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, NMBI. It has been covered in all the media this morning. Ongoing issues have been a factor there since 2014. A whistleblower made very serious allegations under the various provisions of the whistleblowing legislation which I do not intend to repeat in this House. The NMBI is charged with the protection of the public by supporting nurses and midwives and to maintain practice standards in the health service. We know it is involved in the registration of nurses and midwives in Ireland and it also deals with fitness to practice and various issues in that regard, including safety in relation to public health. The NMBI is a critically important body with statutory functions and it works in close co-operation with the Department of Health.

A whistleblower raised concerns about operations within the NMBI with the Department of Health in 2014 and they were documented and confirmed by the then Minister. The whistleblower was protected under the disclosure provisions set down under whistleblower legislation. Others have now come forward and reiterated major concerns in relation to the NMBI. Consultants appointed by the body itself undertook a report into the organisation and identified huge shortcomings. The NMBI’s own report paints a picture of an organisation rife with dispute, internal conflicts and significant challenges.

I ask that the Minister for Health comes to the House because we need to ask serious questions of the organisation. I will not make any additional statements because from documents I have seen today, the Minister is fully aware of the situation, following the consultant’s report and member nurses and midwives of the organisation that have given me a certain amount of information. The Minister must come to the House and reassure not only the Seanad and Dáil but the public that he has every confidence in the organisation. I respectfully ask the Leader to organise a meeting very early next week. It is my intention to further elaborate on these issues next Tuesday if the Minister is not in the House on the day.